Legislature To Vote On County Jail Employees Contract

March 18, 2014

MAYVILLE - Another labor contract is on the table for the Chautauqua County Legislature to vote on next week.

On Monday night, Administrative Services Committee members heard about new terms and conditions for personnel working at the County Jail, represented by CSEA Unit 6323.

The county's negotiating team and CSEA have formulated a tentative agreement for terms and conditions from Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2017.

The contract does not include retroactive pay for 2012-13, but does include a 2 percent wage increase for 2014 and each remaining year of the contract. New hires would be required to participate in a high deductible health plan, beginning in 2016.

Changes were made involving pharmaceutical copays and a wellness program bonus for participating employees.

According to Joe Porpiglia, director of human resources, the projected annual cost of the contract will be $232,000 if approved by the legislature.

Last month, a new contract for the Sheriff's Association was approved, lasting through 2016 at a net increase of $175,000 per year to the county.

If an agreement cannot be reached, the union would declare an "impasse" and the contract would go to arbitration, which can involve higher wage increases at the cost of taxpayers.

In other matters, the creation of a new county position, proposed and tabled at last month's Administrative Services Committee meeting, was discussed.

The proposed salary range for a new compliance/privacy officer is $43,131-$66,053 and requires that the individual maintain policies and procedures for the general operation of the county's compliance program and its related activities to prevent illegal conduct.

"Legislators decided they would like a little more information on the impact of a compliance officer," said Steve Abdella, county attorney. "Their questions revolved around local share and Medicaid caps."

County Executive Vince Horrigan said he would suggest at Thursday morning's Audit and Control Committee meeting that the matter be tabled for another month.